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My #1 tip for getting onto ‘Oprah’ & other big TV shows

OprahAt least 7 out of 10 Publicity Hounds who beg me to help them get booked on “Oprah” or other big TV shows have no business being there.

Either their topic isn’t a good fit for the show, or they can’t articulate a convincing pitch in 15 seconds or less.  Yet they continue to flood the producers with lousy pitches, thus labeling themselves as pests.

Here’s my #1 tip for getting onto “Oprah” and other big TV shows like the “Today” show and “Good Morning America.”  Your topic MUST be a good fit with the audience of the show you’re pitching.

That means business topics that appeal only to managers in the executive suite are a long shot on “Oprah.”  If you’re a stockbroker, forget about pitching a segment  that recommends your top five stock picks in 2009. And if you’re an author, don’t even THINK about pitching your fiction book—or any other book for that matter to any of the big shows.  That’s a big red flag that screams “PEST!” 

Not sure about which shows want which topics? The best place to learn that information is at their websites. Sometimes, you can see clips of past shows. But you won’t always be able to find what you’e looking for quickly, or the information is incomplete.  

michelle-anton1On Thursday, Jan. 29., Michelle Anton, a former guest booker for “Oprah,” will share the three biggest tips you need to know to get onto major TV shows when she’s Steve Harrison’s guest during a complimentary 90-minute teleseminar.  She’ll explain what NOT to send to producers, what NOT to pitch to guest bookers, and mistakes you should never make, or the decision-makers will blackball you forever.

Then, she’ll explain the three big secrets for doing it the right way.  You’ll also hear from other veteran TV producers and surprise guests. 

Register for the call at one of two times—2 or 7 Eastern Time. 

Note: If these times aren’t convenient for you, please recruit a friend or family member to listen and take notes. You won’t want to miss the strategy a husband-and-wife team used to land a seven-minute degment on the “Today” show, and case histories of four other authors and entrepreneurs and the strategies they used to get on big shows.

by Joan Stewart on January 24, 2009

Filed Under: TV & Radio Tagged With: How to Interview, Pitching

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. rowena cherry says

    January 24, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    Thank you for this blog. I appreciate the useful information.

    Rowena Cherry

    Reply
  2. Joseph Reis says

    January 29, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    I appreciate your honesty and willingness to share information. But that brings up the question, “What are us fiction writers to do to generate publicity?

    Reply
  3. Michael N. Brette,J.D. says

    February 14, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    Become an expert in your field with your own radio talk show over the internet. There are alot of free sites to host your own show. Then blog about, issue press releases and wirte articles.

    Reply

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Publicity expert Joan Stewart, a PR mentor aka The Publicity Hound, works with small business owners who need free publicity, and with PR pros who tell their clients' stories to the world. She shows you how to establish your credibility, enhance your reputation, position yourself as an expert, and sell more products and services. To receive her free DIY publicity tips twice a week, subscribe here. See all the ways you can work with Joan. Or contact her and ask a burning question about PR, self-promotion or social media.

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